Be sure to place the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water even though it may never reach the faucet.

If you need to purchase a natural gas oven or range, look for one with an automatic, electric ignition system. An electric ignition saves natural gas because a pilot light is not burning continuously.

Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better, and you will save energy.

Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water; it’s faster and it uses less energy.

Match the size of the pan to the heating element.

Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a full-sized oven.

Use pressure cookers and microwave ovens whenever it is convenient to do so. They will save energy by significantly reducing cooking time.

Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer’s recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature.

Scrape, don’t rinse, off large food pieces and bones.

Soaking or pre-washing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.

In natural gas appliances, look for blue flames; yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. Consult the manufacturer or your local utility.

Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it.

Don’t use the “rinse hold” on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.

Let your dishes air dry; if you don’t have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.

When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for the ENERGY STAR label to find a dishwasher that uses less water and 25% less energy than required by federal standards.

Look for a refrigerator with automatic moisture control. Models with this feature have been engineered to prevent moisture accumulation on the cabinet exterior without the addition of a heater.

Chip clips are a great inexpensive way to keep bagged food items fresh, so you’re not wasting money by tossing out stale food.

Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer section.

If you have a separate freezer for long-term storage, it should be kept at 0°F.

Ensure that your refrigerator and freezer doors seal airtight. You can test them by shutting a piece of paper in the door, leave enough paper sticking out of the door so that you can pull on it. If the paper slides out when you pull on it, then your seals aren’t air tight and cold air is seeping out around the cracks.

Never go shopping without a list. You’ll likely spend a lot more money if you go shopping unprepared.

During winter months, after you’re done using your oven, crack the door and let the leftover heat warm your kitchen and home a little.

By using cloth rags to wipe your kitchen counters, you’ll save a lot of money on paper towels

Ditch the metal bake ware. Glass and ceramic pans are better conductors of heat, meaning your baked goods won’t need as much time in the oven.

Save energy when cooking pasta. By only leaving the water boiling for two minutes after you add the pasta, then you can place a lid on the pot, turn off the heat and leave the pasta to finish cooking for 15-20 minutes.

If you cut your sponges in half, they’ll last twice as long!

Turn off kitchen exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking

You can stretch out a bottle of liquid dish-washing soap by turning an empty olive oil bottle into a dispenser. This way, only a few small drops of soap will come out at a time, which is likely all you’ll ever need.

Have a professional plumber repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time.

Cover your kitchen exhaust fan to stop air leaks when not in use.

If you place food or drinks in your fridge without covering them, they will release more moisture, causing your refrigerator’s compressor to work harder, increasing your energy costs. So always make sure to wrap food before it goes into the fridge.

Thawing frozen foods in hot water or in a microwave adds to your utility costs. If you plan ahead, you can save some money by thawing foods on your kitchen counter or in your fridge.

Water filters and/or a water filtration system will save you a ton of money in bottle water expenses in the long run.

You don’t need to buy hand soap for your kitchen, your dish-washing soap works just as well for washing your hands.

If you’re never able to use all of your milk before it goes bad, consider switching over to organic milk. Organic milk has a much longer shelf life.

You can store opened cereal in the freezer to prevent it from going stale.

By storing your opened jarred foods upside down, you can prevent mold from growing in the jar.

Keeping bananas from spoiling is tricky. The best method is to break up the bunch, individual bananas rot slower than those in a bunch. (P.S. Never store bananas in the fridge).

After you’re done cutting a block of cheese, spread a thin layer of butter on the end you cut. This will prevent that end from becoming hard and unusable.

Fall has finally arrived! Which means winter is not far behind. I know, no one wants to think about winter on the first day of fall, but it’s important that you take advantage of the nice weather while we have it.

The beautiful weather of the fall is the perfect time of year for maintenance. Plus, no one wants to worry about their furnace going out or their pipes freezing in the dead of winter. Take a look at our fall home maintenance checklist, so when old man winter comes knocking, you’ll be ready for him!

1. Caulk Your Windows

If your windows aren’t properly caulked and ready for the cold weather, you’ll have a long winter to look forward to. Cold air will creep into your home, warm air will seep out and you’ll watch your power bill climb higher and higher as your furnace works to keep up!

2. Clean Your Gutters

Everyone’s favorite job right? Of course not, but it’s important to clear away all of those fallen leaves, to avoid ice damage down the road.

3. Give Your Roof a Quick Inspection

While you’re on that ladder cleaning your gutters, you might as well hop onto your roof and check for any signs of damage. The condition of your roof is something that you need to stay on top of. Repairs are expensive and the damage done to your home by a leaky roof will be even more costly!

4. Insulation, Insulation, Insulation

Heating and cooling your home accounts for at least 47% of your total energy costs each year. This percent increases if your home is improperly insulated.

5. Battery Check

Fall maintenance is the best time to check and replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Don’t forget to test your alarms to ensure they’re in proper working order!

Late September and early October are the best times to have a professional technician inspect and clean your heating systems. Annual maintenance is your best defense against your furnace failing you in the middle of winter. And having your system checked each fall will ensure your furnace will be ready the first time you turn it on!

7. Get Your Humidifiers Ready

Winter brings dry air and dry air means dry, cracked, itchy skin! Which is what makes humidifiers so important. Make sure that your humidifier is cleaned and ready to go, to avoid itchy consequences.

P.S. Make sure that you clean your humidifier every two to three weeks to prevent bacteria building up in your system and distributing throughout your air.

8. Prepare To Give Your Air Conditioner A Much Needed Vacation

The heat will soon be gone, hopefully, and your air conditioner will no longer be needed. Fall is a great time to dry vac the outer parts of your unit, so it’ll be ready to be turned back on next spring.

9. Ensure Your Winter Equipment Is In Working Order

The middle of a snow storm is not the time to discover that your brother-in-law never returned the snow shovel he borrowed, you’re out of salt or your snow blower won’t start. This fall, take the time to ensure that you have all of your snow removal equipment is in working order, stocked and in its proper place.

10. Don’t Let Your Pipes Freeze Up On You!

Frozen pipes are one the worst things that can happen to any home owner, but luckily there are a few steps you can take, to help prevent this type of disaster.

Turn off the water valves to your exterior pipes.

Ensure that any opening in which pipes enter your home are well sealed, insulated and caulked.

Have your pipes checked by a licensed plumber each fall, to ensure there are’nt any cracks or weak points that might freeze.

11. Have Your Portable Generator Inspected

Portable generators can be life savers if the power goes out during a strong snow storm. However, they can be very dangerous and need to be inspected by an electrician on a regular bases to ensure they are functioning properly.

12. Do You Feel A Draft?

Check your basement windows for cracks, loose frames and other sources for cold air to enter your home. Caulk where needed.

13. Change Up Your Air Flow

Since heat rises, it is to your benefit to redirect the air flow away from your ceiling, back down toward the floor. You can do this if you change the direction your ceiling fan spins, so that it creates an upwards draft and sends the warm air back down.

Plumbing is something that every one of us uses and relies on. From our bathrooms to our kitchens, ensuring that all of your plumbing pipes are running smoothly and efficiently is important to your health and happiness. So, here is a list of great plumbing tips, tricks and advice, every homeowner should know!

Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period.

Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the thermostat.

Insulate your gas or oil hot-water storage tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the water heater’s top, bottom, thermostat or burner compartment; when in doubt, get professional help.

Install non-aerating low-flow faucets and shower heads, to save major bucks on your water bill

Although most water heaters last 10-15 years, it’s best to start shopping for a new one if yours is more than 7 years old.

Doing some research before your heater fails will enable you to select one that most appropriately meets your needs.

Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high-temperature settings

A water heater setting of 115°F provides enough hot water for most users

Drain a quart of water from your water tank every 3 months to remove sediment that impedes heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater.

If you heat with electricity and live in a warm and sunny climate, consider installing a solar water heater.

Egg shells are a great way to clean garbage disposals

Take more showers than baths. You use 15-25 gallons of hot water for a bath, but less than 10 gallons during a 5-minute shower.

Choose a water heater with an appropriate first-hour rating (FHR) by estimating your family’s peak-hour demand for hot water

Determine the appropriate fuel type for your water heater. If you are considering electricity, check with your local utility company for off-peak electricity rates for water heating.

Natural gas, oil and propane water heaters are less expensive to operate than electric models.

For safety as well as energy-efficiency reasons, when buying gas- and oil-fired water heaters, look for units with sealed combustion or power venting to avoid back-drafting of combustion gasses into the home.

Do not install the water heater in an unheated basement.

Try to minimize the length of piping that runs to your bathroom and kitchen.

If your drain is clogged you can pour half a box of baking soda and ½ a cup of vinegar down the drain, then wait 30-45 minutes and pour boiling water down the drain.

For electric water heaters, install a timer that can automatically turn the hot water off at night and on in the morning. A simple timer can pay for itself in less than a year.

Toilets and sinks require different types of plungers to remove clogs. Make sure you’re using the correct one.

Take sure to check all of your pipes for leaks, even just a small leak can waste nearly 20 gallons of water per day. Just imagine what a larger leak can do.

Don’t go crazy when using detergents, bleach or other chemicals, overusing these products can kill the natural bacteria that your septic system needs

Septic systems should be checked twice a year, to ensure they’re running properly

Using biodegradable soaps will help you conserve more water

A spring loaded timer that attaches directly onto your outdoor faucet, will help prevent you from over or under watering your garden

Check your water meter when no water is being used then check it again about eight hours later. If your meter has moved, that’s a clear sign that you may have a leak

A leaky toilet can increase your water usages by more than 40%, you’ll want to repair the leak ASAP to save money on your water bill

Have an older shower head? You can save up to 7.5 gallons of water per minute by replacing it with a newer model.

If you suspect a leak in your sink, toilet, water main, etc. turn off the water before attempting repairs

If you have never been trained on how to use an auger, you can cause serious and expensive damage to your pipes.

Keep our number handy: 1-888-9TIGER1. You never know when you’ll have a plumbing emergency.

Don’t overload your garbage disposal with too much food at one time

Remember to use lots of water while running your garbage disposal, to prevent clogs

Those toilet flushing tabs, are horrible for your toilet and will create major problems down the road

If nothing happens when you flush, it means you have a loose handle or valve

Clogged toilet? Let it sit for a few hours or overnight, then try flushing again. Often times this is all you’ll need to do, to fix the issue. Just be ready for the water to overflow if this doesn’t work.

You can also add some hot or boiling water to your bowl and try flushing, to correct a clog.

Adding dish soap to the bowl is another method that might remove a clog

Distilled vinegar can remove hard water stains on your shower head. Just tie a bag of vinegar around your shower head and leave it there for a few hours. Then you can simply wipe away the stains with a cloth.

Letting Coke soak in your toilet, is the easiest way to clean your bowl.

To clean your dishwasher, pour ½ cup of white vinegar into the detergent cup and simply run the empty machine for one full cycle.

You can use half a lemon to rub away any hard water stains on your
faucets.

Disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products, hair, coffee grounds, toothpaste, food particles, oil from cooking and mineral build up are the most common causes of clogged drains

Small bathroom? A corner toilet is a great way to save space!

Looking to save on your water bill? Place a bucket in the shower to catch water, which you can later use to wash your vehicle

Most newer water meters have an easy to read leak indicator on the face of the dial

It’s a myth that low flow toilets don’t perform as well as regular flow toilets

WaterSense labeled toilets get the job done

High-efficiency toilets do not cause problems with home plumbing systems

WaterSense labeled toilets meet or exceed plumbing standards

High-efficiency toilets are available in a wide range of models

Plastic piping is superior to metal piping in almost every way

Plastic piping is cheaper than metal

Plastic piping is much easier to install, adjust and tighten if a leak develops, than metal piping

Plastic piping, unlike metal, won’t corrode.

When a metal drain leaks it’s usually a great idea to replace the metal with plastic piping

A clog can often be yanked out with an easy tool like a Zip-It or other flexible-shaft pick-up tool

A wet/dry vac can often suck out a clog

Both tape and dope work equally as well when you’re sealing pipe threads

Tape is only meant for pipe threads, don’t use tape on compressors or other connections

“Plumber’s putty,” can damage plastic and it can leave stains.

You can remove that gross tub ring by sprinkling the tub with salt and taking half a piece of grapefruit use it as a scrubber

Use food coloring, to test for a leaky toilet. Place a few drops in your toilet’s water tank. Wait a few hours, then check the bowl to see if there is any color there. If there is, it’s an indicator that you have a leaky flapper

You can use a wet/dry vac to retrieve items that fall into the toilet

By tying a piece of string around your faucet that reaches down to the drain, you can quiet the sound from a dripping faucet.

The most common causes of dripping faucets are worn washers, bad internal seats or worn/faulty faucet cartridges

If your water pressure is too high, like over 80 pounds per square inch, for example, it can cause damage to your faucet and create a leak

If your kitchen sink is clogged by grease, you can remove the clog by pouring ¼ cup of dish soap down the drain, wait about 20 minutes and then pour roughly a quart of boiling water in the drain

Pouring chemicals down your drain will corrode the pipes.

The newer, thicker chemicals meant to remove clogs from drains will often cause or worsen clogs.

A pedestal sump pump has the motor attached to the top of a shaft; this motor is not designed to be under water.

A pedestal sump pump works well if you have a smaller diameter basins

Sump pumps usually come with an automatic on/off switch for your convenience

A float switch is the most common sump pump automatic switches.

Sump Pump float switches are designed to raise with the rising water levels your basin and the pump is started after the water reaches a certain level.

Submersible sump pumps are designed to sit in the base of the sump basin, below water level.

Submersible sump pumps are more adapted to larger sump basins

Submersible sump pumps are typically quieter than pedestal pumps.

To determine the size of sump pump you need, you must know how much water you’ll need to be pumped, how high the water will be pumped and the length and size of pipe.

Do not assume that having a large horsepower sump pump will be the best choice for you, do your research before buying

A large horsepower sump pump, in a small diameter basin, will cause the pump to cycle more frequently, shortening your pumps life.

Pump capacity charts are available through professional plumbers and installers or pump manufacturers or they can be found on the web.

When installing a sump pump, it is usually recommended that a check valve be installed, this prevents water left in the outlet pipe from flowing back into the basin

Some check valves can be attached to the sump pump itself, while others are placed farther up the outlet pipe

A dedicated electrical circuit should be used for the sump pump. Most pumps have a high amp load when starting

Do not use an extension cord to plug the pump into the outlet

To maintain a sump pump, periodically check the system.

Make sure the float in your sump pump is free of obstructions

Observe the outlet on your sump pump to make sure water is actually being pumped

If a sump pump fails, and water gets into the basement, do not attempt repairs without first turning off the power to all basement outlets.

If you call a plumber right when you first notice a leaky faucet you’ll likely only need a simple, small repair, but if you wait a few months, the leak will worsen and cause more damages leading to more costly repairs

Watching home improvement shows and reading DIY plumbing blogs, doesn’t make you a master plumber. Plumbers spend years training and learning the plumbing trade, it’s best to leave big plumbing issues to the professionals and save yourself a headache.

A leaky toilet can waste enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in one year. Now just imagine what that is doing to your bill

Many toilets really do run only at night; that’s because people use much less water during these hours and in many municipal water systems, the water pressure rises considerably during this time

If you only notice your toilet running in the middle of the night, there is a good chance that the water level in your tank is set too high

If you have plumbing concerns call 1-888-9TIGER1 or visit TrustTiger.com to have a plumber address and issues you may have.

If you have any plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical needs, simply call us at:

Carbon monoxide(CO) kills an estimated 660 Americans each year. What makes carbon monoxide so dangerous is its lack of warning signs. Smoke typically precedes fire; gas leaks often produce strong odors. Carbon monoxide, on the other hand, is an odorless and colorless gas; you may not know you’re breathing until it’s too late.

CO is created by the incomplete burning of gasoline, wood, charcoal, natural gas, propane, oil or methane. Vehicles running inside an attached garage, furnaces, gas ovens, poorly vented stoves or fireplaces, are some of the most common sources of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The effects and dangers of carbon monoxide vary depending on several factors:

Infants, small children, pregnant women and those in poor health, are more at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

CO poisoning can be a long, slow process if a person’s exposure is limited or the carbon monoxide leak is small.

However, carbon monoxide poisoning can happen much faster, if the leak is larger. Carbon monoxide can kill within minutes if a person is exposed to enough CO.

The symptoms of CO poisoning are often mistaken for other common illnesses. People often believe they are suffering from food poisoning, the flu, viral infections or exhaustion. So, many people never even consider there might be a carbon monoxide leak.

Keep an eye out for these warning signs:

Dizziness

Headaches

Nausea

Breathlessness

Collapsing

Loss of consciousness

How to tell if these symptoms are from a common illness or warning signs of CO poisoning:

The symptoms you’re experiencing, only occur when you are at home

Your symptoms seemed to improve when you leave your home.

The other members of your family are experiencing similar symptoms.

Your pets also seem to be suffering from CO poisoning symptoms.

Strategies to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Exposure:

Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas-, oil- or coal-burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.

Install a battery-operated CO detector and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall.

Do not use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline- or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, garage or near a window.

Do not run a vehicle inside a garage attached to your home, even if you leave the garage door open.

Do not burn anything on a stove or in a fireplace that is not vented.

Do not heat your house with a gas oven.

Interconnected CO alarms offer the best protection; when one sounds, they all do. One of our Certified Electricians can install hard-wired interconnected CO alarms throughout your home.

Or you can install wireless alarms, plug-in alarms or battery operated alarms.

If you have any plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical needs, simply call us at:

September is here already! In the Midwest, September means the kids are back at school, pools start closing down, pumpkin flavored everything hits the grocery stores. But what September is most known for in this area, is its crazy, unpredictable, roller-coaster weather!

Yes, the next few weeks we can expect the weather to teeter between hot summer days and frosty autumn nights. One day we’ll see the temperatures reach into the high 90’s, with unbearable humidity and the next day you’ll be wearing sweaters and jackets. And there are the days that will start out on one temperature extreme and end on the other.

While September tries to figure out what season it wants to be in, we’re stuck trying to keep our homes comfortable and our energy bills as low as possible. These tasks are a lot trickier than they should be! But we have the insider advice you need to know when dealing with the back and forth transition from hot to cooler temperatures.

Hot weather turns cooler, so you turn off your air conditioner and open the windows. Then things heat back up, so you shut those windows and turn your air conditioner back on. We experienced this just last week. The August heat broke and we had a week or so of nice cooler, almost fall like temperatures. Then the next thing we knew, summer came roaring back with a vengeance.

With this being the first week of September, we can expect these yo-yo temperatures to occur a dozen more times. The key here is to NOT keep turning your air conditioner on and off, and opening and closing your windows.

Most people believe that doing this will save them money on their energy bill. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Every time you open your windows, you’re not only letting the cooler air in, but your home is also filling up with humidity.

When you turn your air conditioner back on, it will run twice as long and twice as hard, to both cool your home and remove the humidity, which in turn will cost you big bucks on your energy bill. Instead of turning your air conditioner off and opening a window, simply turn the temperature up. Your unit will run less, you’ll still be comfortable and you’ll see the savings on your energy bill.

If you have any plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical needs, simply call us at:

Fall allergy season is just around the corner. Are you ready for the itchy, watery eyes, the running nose, the stuffy head, the sore throat, the coughing, sneezing and all of the other lovely symptoms that accompany your seasonal allergies?

If you’re like most people who suffer from seasonal allergies, you spend most of autumn indoors trying to avoid all of the ragweed and mold in the air. Unfortunately, the air indoors is often much worse for your allergies than the air outside.

Ragweed can be dragged in with you when you enter your house. Mold thrives anywhere damp and may already be in your home. Dust mites are likely already clinging to just about every surface. And there are dozens of other indoor pollutants, floating around in the air you’re breathing.

Every time you inhale, you may be breathing in all of those pollutants and worsening your allergies. Additionally, if you live in a home with poor indoor air quality, you can suffer from frequent headaches, chest colds, worsening of your asthma symptoms, bronchitis and other respiratory issues. So, does that mean you’re doomed to spend every fall in misery? Not at all!

These filters were originally designed to protect the equipment and not the people served by the equipment.

The average air filter is only capable of removing three to five percent of the particles that pass through it, leaving 93-95% of all indoor pollutants in the air you’re breathing.

Today, they are several types of permanent air filters available in various efficiencies that can help you filter the air in your home.

If you suffer from allergies, asthma, hay fever or other breathing difficulties, there is an air filter that can help you.

We can even provide you with the same type of air filter used in hospital operating rooms. So, not only will your seasonal allergy symptoms improve, but your indoor air quality will be much better all year long.